Who Is a Prisoner of Conscience? Understanding Those Persecuted for Peaceful Beliefs
At HRPF, we support many men and women around the world who are prisoners of conscience – people who are persecuted for the non-violent act of protecting or advancing human rights—but we also provide vital assistance to human rights defenders everywhere. These are individuals who work tirelessly to uphold human rights, often at great personal risk.
Our definition of a prisoner of conscience naturally includes human rights defenders as defined by the OHCHR.
So, What Does ‘Prisoner of Conscience’ Really Mean?
There is no single definition of ‘prisoner of conscience’,
Amnesty International defines a prisoner of conscience as a person imprisoned (or otherwise detained) solely because of who they are (ethnic origin, sex, colour, language, national or social origin, economic status, birth, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or other status) or what they believe (political, religious or other conscientiously held beliefs), who has not used violence or advocated violence or hatred in the circumstances leading to their detention.
At HRPF, we expand the definition to include not only people who are imprisoned or detained, but also those who are persecuted for their non-violent action to protect or advance human rights. This could include those who face death threats, are subjected to torture or assault and/or are forced into exile because of their human rights work.
‘They took my passport and they said I’m not allowed to go far from Kigali….I felt like: ‘my world is finished‘. I had no choice. I had to take exile’.
– Juliette, a journalist from Rwanda, one of the thousands of prisoners of conscience around the world.
Why Helping a Prisoner of Conscience Matters
HRPF’s research indicates that at any one time there are thousands of prisoners of conscience and defenders who are persecuted and in need of our support. Without us, they may have nowhere else to turn.
Our research indicates that we are the only UK charity which focuses solely on transforming the lives of prisoners of conscience through financial grants and practical support.
Our Work Today
Right now, thousands of human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience urgently need support. At the Human Rights Protection Fund, we:
- Provide emergency financial assistance to those at risk or in crisis.
- Help persecuted individuals and families rebuild their lives in safety.
Learn more about our work with prisoners of conscience
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